It’s heartbreaking” – Phil Taylor admits he welcomes retirement as injuries take their toll full details below
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‘ It’s heartbreaking” – Phil Taylor admits he welcomes retirement as injuries take their toll full details below
The chances of seeing Phil Taylor play on the big stage are getting slimmer and slimmer. After The Power was forced to withdraw from the World Seniors Matchplay, the Greatest Player of All Time has just one tournament left before he retires for good.
The 16-time world champion has been suffering from discomfort following hip surgery in recent weeks and has decided to follow doctors’ advice and not play in York at the end of the month. Taylor’s place in York will be taken by three-time Lakeside finalist Tony O’Shea, who had to withdraw from the World Seniors Darts Championship in February due to a hand injury. Silverback will face reigning senior world champion John Henderson in the first round.
“I’m struggling a bit with my hip. Scar tissue,” Taylor admits in an interview with Online Darts, thinking of his recent hip surgery. “Everything was going well, but then I just did a bit too much and apparently my scar tissue ruptured. So yeah, it’s a bit painful.”
Despite Taylor dominating darts for over 20 years, The Power has yet to win a trophy since retiring from the Pro Tour and moving into senior darts. While he is no longer the force he once was, this decline has something to do with his hip problems of recent years. “It was the worst pain I’ve had in the last 12 months. To be honest, I’ll be glad when this year is over,” he reveals. “When I’m training I’m fine, but after playing for a couple of hours I get this really bad pain in my hip. It’s like a toothache and it drives me mad, really.”
“It’s heartbreaking to be honest. That’s the worst part. There are people who say, ‘Come on Phil, you’re better than this’. I know I’m better than this,” Taylor continued. “But you can’t turn right. It’s like you get your foot in the right position and turn around, but then someone stabs you in the back or electrocutes you. It’s always such a weird feeling.”
However, as mentioned, Taylor’s playing days are almost over. Aside from occasional appearances on the exhibition circuit, the greatest darts player of all time has just one televised tournament left on the World Senior Darts Tour, having recently announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Seniors Matchplay in York. “In some ways I’m relieved, if I’m honest,” Taylor reckons. “Of course I’ll miss it, but when you’re in your 60s it’s a lot harder.”The desire is still there. Mentally I’m 100% fit. It’s all about the body. Age is a terrible thing when you’re in pain every day,” Taylor concluded. “I couldn’t do it anymore, I just couldn’t go on, you know? It was too hard for me. So, yes, it’s heartbreaking, don’t get me wrong, but it’s time.”
“”People say, ‘Come on Phil, you’re better than that.’ It’s heartbreaking” – Phil Taylor admits he welcomes retirement as injuries take their toll”
